Ohio University chemical engineering students to race mini electro-cars Tues., March 13

Athens, OHIO (March 9, 2012) – Ohio University chemical and biomolecular engineering students will race their electro-chem-e-cars on Tues., March 13 from 3-5 p.m. in the Stocker Center lobby on Ohio University’s West Green.

The undergraduate and graduate students designed, built and optimized the shoebox-sized cars as part of a chemical and biomolecular engineering course in the Fritz J. and Dolores H. Russ College of Engineering and Technology. The course, Analysis of Electrochemical Systems Course (CHE 455/555), tasks students with designing and building their own batteries and performing systems integration on a small car.

The course is taught by Russ Professor Gerardine Botte, known internationally for her pioneering “pee-to-power” process in which wastewater can be converted to hydrogen for use in fuel cells.

Under Botte’s direction, Ohio University students have won various national awards at chem-e-car competitions, and have made professional presentations, at conferences hosted by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.